Crop Report: Issue 10, July 6, 2015

Weekly Provincial Summary

Crops are advancing quickly in Manitoba. The smoky, hazy conditions have not impacted crops, and may have helped buffer temperatures as well as benefited crops in the drier areas of the province.

Over the weekend, areas of Manitoba saw thunderstorms with heavy rainfall, strong winds, and in some cases hail. Crop lodging occurred, particularly in spring cereals and corn. Crop recovery will be assessed in the coming days.

Some areas in the province would benefit from precipitation for continued growth and grain filling in crops, and regrowth in hay fields and pastures.

Livestock producers were able to make progress with first cut haying operations, although rain showers and high humidity impacted some operations.

Southwest Region

Near normal temperatures, scattered showers, along with smoke and haze, allowed for generally beneficial growing conditions in the Southwest Region. The smoke and haze help to buffer daytime temperatures, resulting in slowing crop maturation and good crop canopy and tiller development Scattered showers and thunderstorms brought varying amounts of precipitation, ranging from 10 to 50 mm, along with strong winds in some areas. There are reports of crop damage from hail in the Glenella area. However, in the northern parts of the region, crops would benefit from precipitation.

Winter cereals are fully headed and fungicide applications are now complete. Fungicide applications in spring cereals have begun as the crop enters the reproductive stages of development. Canola crops are variable within the region; 60 to 70% of the canola acres are flowering, while reseeded canola is beginning to canopy. Field peas have begun to flower and are receiving fungicide applications for mycosporella blight control. Approximately 30 to 40% of the early seeded flax is starting to flower.

Soybeans continue to respond well to the good growing conditions and are in the fourth trifoliate with some early flower development noted. Weed control measures in soybeans are nearing completion in most fields. Sunflower and corn are still in vegetative stage and taking advantage of the warm and humid weather.

There are reports of cereal leaf beetle but damage is not considerable. Bertha armyworm counts are low. First cut of hay is well underway. Yields are average to below average with good quality. Silage and greenfeed crops are advancing. Pasture growth is beginning to slow due to the warm and dry conditions recently. Dugouts are 75% full.

Northwest Region

Scattered showers throughout the Northwest Region resulted in rainfall amounts ranging from trace to 13 mm. The rain was very welcome but more is needed. Soil conditions remain dry through Swan River, Roblin and Dauphin areas with The Pas and Ste Rose reporting adequate moisture.

Overall, crops are in good to fair condition in the Northwest Region. Early cereals are elongating with approximately 40% of fields heading out; growth in some fields is stunted due to dry conditions. Approximately 85% of canola fields are in the rosette stage with 15% of fields starting to bolt and bloom. Canola ranges from good to fair condition, mostly because of poor and non-uniform emergence.

Peas started to flower throughout the region. Corn is also in good to fair condition with 90% ranging in development from V1 to V5 and 10% V6 to V13 stage. Soybeans are mostly in good condition and have begun to flower.

Some fungicide applications are being applied, both by air and ground, where warranted. Due to dry conditions, disease pressure is generally low.

Isolated showers throughout the region also benefited pastures. Some areas received very little precipitation, so dry conditions remain. Haying and alfalfa grass silage harvest is underway. Pasture and hay fields are in below average to poor condition. Water supplies in pastures are adequate but drying up in several areas.

Central Region

Warm and humid weather conditions, along with adequate moisture, made for excellent growing conditions. The smoky conditions help to buffer air temperatures. Thunderstorm activity on the weekend brought moderate amounts of precipitation to western areas, while heavier amounts were seen in the eastern and northern parts of the region. There is water in low lying areas, and ditches are running. Strong winds and/or heavy rains over the weekend caused significant cereal crop lodging in all areas. Hail damage was reported in the Portage, Glenella, Westbourne, Fannystelle and Starbuck areas. Rainfall amounts ranged significantly, from only 3 mm, to 75 mm in the LaSalle, St.Agathe, Altona and Emerson areas, and upwards of 100 mm in the Westbourne area. In some areas of the region, the precipitation was welcome; however, a few areas could have benefitted from more rainfall.

Cereal crops throughout the region look good, although many are now lodged due to the wind and rain. Conditions are conducive for disease development in much of the region. Fungicide applications continue as crops come in to stage; aerial applications will become more common with the wet conditions.

There is a wide range in canola development due to the varied seeding dates, particularly with reseeding. Fungicide applications for the majority of canola fields in the eastern part of the region range are complete; the later reseeded canola will see application shortly. Herbicide applications to reseeded canola in western areas are complete, and rapid crop growth will allow for fungicide applications to begin in the near future.

Soybeans are in the second to fourth trifoliate and are nodulating. Many fields have started to flower. First flowers are also showing in edible beans. The most advanced field peas are in the second week of flowering.Most producers are caught up on herbicide applications in reseeded crops. Second applications continue in soybeans but should be completed shortly.

Diamondback moth and bertha armyworm trap counts are average to low. Grasshopper nymphs are present at field edges and on roadsides, at average populations to date. Some hot spots from last season have seen control measures taken. Some true armyworms have been found, but not in sufficient numbers to warrant control.

Alfalfa first cut for high quality hay for the export market and local dairy producers is complete. Alfalfa grass first cut continues as weather permits. Baling progress has been slow due to high humidity and rains. Once weather and field conditions dry, many beef producers will be busy with first cut. Preliminary yield estimates are average. Pasture growth is very good with the abundant moisture and warmer temperatures. Rain replenished dugouts and water supplies are considered adequate.

Eastern Region

While warm temperatures and good growing conditions occurred during most of last week in the Eastern Region, severe thunderstorms occurred during the weekend resulting in rainfall accumulations of 25 to 100 mm accompanied by strong winds. Some areas received hail. Standing water is evident in some fields. Rainfall amounts were generally higher in central and southern districts and hail was more common in these areas. Some crops were lodged, particularly cereals, and producers are waiting to see the degree of recovery. Soil moisture conditions on crop land are rated as adequate to surplus.

Spring cereal crops are heading and flowering. Winter wheat is in early grain fill. Canola is flowering. Soybeans range from trifoliate stages to R1. Sunflowers are in bud with corn ranging from V7 to V10.

First pass post-emergent herbicide applications are complete and producers are focused on second passes, particularly in soybeans.

Spring wheat fusarium head blight fungicide applications are 75% complete. Fungicide applications for sclerotinia in canola are 80% complete. Pesticide applications are on hold as this week’s weather will determine if fields can be accessed in a timely matter for further fungicide or herbicide applications without causing significant rutting or further crop damage. More aerial application may occur.

A few reports of armyworms in cereals and timothy crops were received with limited insecticide application occurring.

Across the region, the majority of hay and pasture lands are in good condition. For first cut hay, it is estimated that 50% is standing, 20% is cut and 30% is baled or put up as silage. Quality is rated as good. Availability of livestock water is adequate.

Interlake Region

In the Interlake Region, heavy rains, strong winds, and isolated hail events occurred over the weekend. In the Arborg, Riverton, Gimli, and Woodlands areas, precipitation amounts ranged from 50 to 85 mm, while the Selkirk and Teulon areas received 30 to 40 mm. Many cereal and forage seed crops lodged due to the heavy rainfall. The excess moisture conditions in areas of the region are impacting the lower areas of the fields. However, the Ashern and surrounding area received only trace amounts of precipitation; crops would benefit from rainfall.

Spring cereals continue to head out. Some spring wheat has finished flowering but the majority of fields are still at the heading stage. Barley fields are close to completely headed out, except for fields that were planted late for greenfeed. Oat fields are just starting to head out. Canola staging varies across the Interlake Region with some fields being over 50% flowered and others still at the bolting stage or 4 to 5 leaf stage.

Corn staging ranges from V6 to V13 stage, and soybeans are at R1 (flowering stage) with some fields still in the V3 to V5 stage.

Fungicide applications will continue once fields can be travelled across. For the crops that are close to the fungicide timing, aerial application will occur.

Pasture and hay conditions vary considerably throughout the Interlake Region as the eastern side has had excess rainfall and the western side has drier conditions. Subsequently, pasture and hay yields vary considerably throughout the region. Pasture growth in the central and western side of the Interlake are impacted by the drier condition. Older, unfertilized and pure grass hay fields are yielding below average. There is average to below average yields on alfalfa/grass stands throughout much of the region.